Fashion - BA (Hons) | Edinburgh College of Art

Learn more about Edinburgh College of Art

"You will develop a variety of technical and pattern-cutting skills - including creative cutting, small-scale cutting, tailoring and outerwear - and will be encouraged to develop innovations in fabrics, garment manufacture and finishings."

Teaching the fashion innovators of the future

ECA is known for cutting-edge fashion teaching that emphasises personal creative freedom and design innovation while giving you more tutor time than in most other Fashion programmes.

Our annual show is a highlight of Scotland’s fashion calendar.

Our students have won many leading awards, including the GFW George Gold Award for Best Collection (Lauren Smith, 2013), GFW Womenswear Collection of the Year (Melissa Villevieille, 2015), GFW Menswear Collection of the Year (Shauni Douglas and Olivia Creber, 2013), the Christopher Bailey Collection of the Year, the Considered Design Award and the Hilary Alexander Trailblazer Award (Brian Mc Lysaght, 2019), David Band Textiles Award (Alexander Fan, 2019), George Catwalk to Store Award (Rosie Baird, 2019).

Together with the fashion industry group, All Walks Beyond the Catwalk, we co-founded The Diversity Network exploring emotionally considerate design and social responsibility. Working closely with the National Galleries of Scotland, we integrate our research on body image, self-esteem and identity into all our teaching, helping you build your skills in responding with empathy to consumers and their diverse needs.

Learning keeping pace with industry

Fashion is multifaceted and ever-evolving. Our programme reflects this.

As shown in our annual DesignBook portfolio-building projects, we are renowned for upholding high standards of fashion drawing and presentation skills, helping you with understanding brand development and what it takes to shine in a creative business.

You will also develop a variety of technical and pattern-cutting skills - including creative cutting, small-scale cutting, tailoring and outerwear - and encouraged to develop innovations in fabrics, garment manufacture and finishings.

Ultimately, the final year offers you the opportunity to fully incorporate your design strengths into your graduate fashion collection, which can be explored through perspectives of accessory-led design, menswear, womenswear, knitwear and surface-led design.

Careers

Your employment and career development are our priorities. We bring our industry experience and connections to each project, with opportunities to participate in competitions and lives briefs set by H&M, Dr Martens, Mackintosh, Sophie Halette and more. Our graduates have gone on to work for top design brands, including Balenciaga, H&M, Reiss, Cos, Warehouse, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Gucci, to name but a few.

How to apply and entrance requirements

If you'd like to study on an undergraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder, where you'll also be able to

see the structure of the programme and what you will study each year
see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
get information on what to expect after you apply
find out about fees
find out where to go for further advice and guidance

Take me to the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

If you have any questions about the application process, your qualifications or deadlines, our Undergraduate Admissions Office will be happy to help you.

Email the Undergraduate Admissions Office: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

What happens next?

We will contact you with our decision by mid-May. If you are made an offer, you will be invited to attend an Offer Holder Day.

Offer Holder Days typically take place in April and are opportunities for successful applicants to learn more about their subject areas and life as a student at Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh. Whether you visit us in person or attend a virtual Offer Holder Day, you will have the opportunity to meet with academic staff and current students from your programme, tour the studios and other facilities and attend general information sessions.

Find out more on Degree Finder

Aurélie Fontan

For Aurélie, studying at ECA gave her the chance to pursue her interest in Fashion where she made the most of the experience, wining first place in a professional project in collaboration with Michael Kors and became a student ambassador working for the university to help with events.